Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1887-06-02
TOWN TALK.
The Contest over the Court
House.

When last [ wrote you, PIONEER,
the statement was made that at some
other time, l might refer to the big
time which Cumberland county peo-
pie had, when the present Court House
on Broad street was ordered built in
place of the old house which was de-
scribed to you. About 1886 an agita-
tion was begun on the question of re-
moving the county seat to Millville,
caused by the talk of building a
new Court House. A special act was
passed by the Legislature, giving the
people power to vote on the PROPOSE
ton. The election was held two days,
July 25th and 26th, 1887, and great
one it was. The battle was a warm
one, but there was no party in it, as it
was a question of rivalry between
Bridgeton and Millville, as to which
should be the shire town. 1t was found
as the contest progressed, that q mum
Der of voters in Fairfield proposed to
vote in favor of the establishment of the
county seat at Fairton, thus endanger-
ing Bridgeton's chances. There was
great excitement throughout the
county. Those who favored Bridgeton
were arrayed on one side, those who
favored Millville on the other, the Fair
fielders holding the balance of power.
The Bridgetonians were badly fright
ened. The result of the balloting was
as follows:-Bridgeton, 1884; Millville,
1859; Fairton, 214.
When the result was declared, the
Millvillers We're wild with rage, and
they resolved to block the game in the
Board of Freeholders The Board, was
tie on the question, and refused to
vote any money for the erection of the
new county buildings. This made still
further excitement, and caused con-
siderable delay. The matter was finally
settled through the efforts of the late
Esquire Daniel NJ. Woodruff and
others, who went to Trenton in iS43,
and slipped an act through the Legis
lature establishing the new township
of Columbia out of portion of what is
now Hopewell and Stoe Creek town
ships. This gave the advocates of the
new Court House a majority ofthe Free
holders, when the building was ordered
erected at once. The new township,
/ which had been created for that pur-
pose only lasted a year, the
Legislature repeating the act at its
next session. 1t had served its pur-
pose, and like many another good
thing passed away. The controversy
settled, the present edifice on Broad
street was built where it now stands
an ornament to the town and the
county.
Since the day of its erection the
Court House on the hill has been
several times repaired, and once within
recent years, an addition built to the
rear. The new apartment is supplied
with all the modern facilities. water,
gas. &c. 1t contains a retiring room
for the Judges, in which there is a
valuable Law Library, the property of
the county. Few counties can boast
of better Court House, more nicely
located, or in more pleasant surround
ings It's only fault is found in the
fact that it is becoming too small for
the proper transaction of Court busi-
ness. One of these days it will have to
be remodelled and made larger and
when that time arrives the county will
probably witness a renewal of the agi-
tation as to the removal of the county
seat. Till then Bridgetonians can rest
in peace, safe in the knowledge that
for the present, at least, the Temple of
Justice is safely anchored in our
midst. LAWRENCE.